Minnesota Sports Forum

Camden, He could have had AK and Martin. There didn't have to be a tradeoff there.I was only saying AK = Martin in terms of comparing who came and who went this offseason. AK was clearly willing to negotiate a longer, cheaper contract. We could have had our cake and ate it too. Instead he downgraded our SF position by giving up on AK and overvaluing Brewer. And Shabazz was a terrible pick, even at #14.

I liked the Dieng pick, the Turiaf signing, and he gets some degree of credit for Martin and Budinger.

All and all, that's a C in my book.

That's purely speculation, Q. Us as fans can think we could have had AK as well as Martin, but AK is the one that opted out. More speculation: AK left to go play for a title contender. He tried the Spurs, then ended up with the Nets and the Russian owner. I don't recall AK ever pleading that it was a definite that he'd re-sign with Sota. Was it an option? Maybe, and Flip checked in on AK here and there to see what they were discussing.

Taking Shabazz at 14 is a low risk, medium-high reward pick. What significant role is Shabazz going to be forced to have this year? He's not. He's a developmental guy. I'd bet that if he was a Euro stash, everyone would be fine with the pick. He's got a high ceiling and if he bottoms out, oh well. The guy was taken 14th in a weak draft. I'm not saying it's ever okay to throw away picks, but taking Shabazz with 14 wasn't terrible by any means.

I guess we're agreeing to disagree to the fullest. If that's a C off-season in your book, anything short of Miami's Big Three off-season several years ago must leave you displeased.

I'm with Cam on this one. Unless we were in the room, none of us knows what happened in the negotiations between Flip and AK, so I don't know how we can downgrade his offseason performance because AK decided to walk...especially since each side has decided not to disclose what happened. To me the most plausible theory is that, like so many aging players without a ring, AK wanted to play on a team that he thought had an immediate chance...and at this stage, the Wolves wouldn't fit that criteria regardless of any moves that Flip could have pulled off. I liked AK on our team, but also had grown a little tired of his injuries and poor outside shooting. I don't blame Flip for his departure, and I also don't think that inking AK to a 3-year contract would have been a wise move given where the club is now.

Other than selecting Muhammad...and the jury is still way out on that one...I give Flip an A for what he has accomplished this offseason. I have to grade the draft an incomplete because time will tell, but after seeing McCollum chuck at a 36% rate in Summer League without adding value in assists or defense, trading the 9th pick for 14 and 21 looks like a steal to me. But we don't know yet...maybe we didn't see the real CJ in SL.

Cam I think you missed out on the article the was posted on the board about reducing grade inflation. LOL

I think people tend to define average or not really moving the needle differently. That's ok. I'd probably give Flip a C+ maybe B- grade which ain't too bad considered he didn't really have that much cap space and his draft picks were in a weak draft. There are just too many questions about this team to give a fair grade to Flip because of past injuries knowing what we really have in this team and possible future injuries. I feel like I'll give a grade but its really a wait and see thing but I think this team is pretty talented but the West is pretty stacked.

I, too, was hoping we could keep AK. But AK had his warts. Perimeter shooting and durability are pretty significant issues with AK. He also isn't the lock down defender he once was - age has slowed him up a bit and it isn't going to get better.

AK has a great motor, but Brewer's motor is even better. His ability to run with Rubio and create havoc on the defensive end is a terrific addition to the team. Given the current roster, I also like Brewer's fit as a 2/3 better than AK's fit as a 3/4.

As for the assessment of Flip. Considering how leery we were about Taylor's "warm and fuzzy" hire of Flip in the first place, "not screwing up" is a bonus in my book! But he did more than not screw up. I think he added/retained players that not only compliment Love and Rubio, but are terrific fits in Adelman's system. It's easy to find little things to complain about, but the final roster we are looking at is pretty damn impressive. I give Flip an A+.

Q12543 wrote:Camden, He could have had AK and Martin. There didn't have to be a tradeoff there.I was only saying AK = Martin in terms of comparing who came and who went this offseason. AK was clearly willing to negotiate a longer, cheaper contract. We could have had our cake and ate it too. Instead he downgraded our SF position by giving up on AK and overvaluing Brewer. And Shabazz was a terrible pick, even at #14.

I liked the Dieng pick, the Turiaf signing, and he gets some degree of credit for Martin and Budinger.

All and all, that's a C in my book.

Kirilenko did not want to come back. Even if Kirilenko wanted to come back, the team would due harsh negotiating. I have probably wasted 10 posts saying that Adelman loved Kirilenko, but was quite pertubed that AK took days off that he probably could have easily played through. This is really bad ESPECIALLY on the roster last year. Adelman was desperate for players.

As for Deing going 26, no way. Brooklyn was taking him at 22. I am so positive of that, I would be willing to put 200 dollars on it. And no, I do not have a disposable income to do that, haha. That would be free money, but we will assume they did not. (Impossible because they were looking for a big man and picked MASON PLUMLEE. That is proof, but whatever.) Tell me the Clippers would not have picked him at 25. They are super thin at the center position. As for Shabazz, I wanted G-Bo, but I will be a homer and say Shabazz will be an all-star just because I can, haha. In all seriousness Shabazz wasn't a great pick, but he could be a great pick. Contradiction for the win.

THIS IS MY BIGGEST POINT
Had we kept the 9th and 26th pick, we would be out of roster spots, and we would be unable to sign a fifteenth man. Why? In trading the 26, we also dumped (my favourite player) Malcolm Lee. That freed up a huge roster spot. Now assume we kept the 14, 22, and 26. We would be unable to sign a rookie, or Ronnie Turiaf. It would have to be Turiaf Trading the pick at the time and Malcolm Lee was a very good move.

As for Buddinger and Martin, great moves. At least he didn't over-think it.

Corey Brewer will look very good here. He is a perfect player to put with Rubio. (Excluding his poor shooting. That is for Martin and Bud,) I wish we got him at 4MM a year, but what the hell. One million ain't gonna kill us.

60WinTim wrote:I, too, was hoping we could keep AK. But AK had his warts. Perimeter shooting and durability are pretty significant issues with AK. He also isn't the lock down defender he once was - age has slowed him up a bit and it isn't going to get better.

AK has a great motor, but Brewer's motor is even better. His ability to run with Rubio and create havoc on the defensive end is a terrific addition to the team. Given the current roster, I also like Brewer's fit as a 2/3 better than AK's fit as a 3/4.

As for the assessment of Flip. Considering how leery we were about Taylor's "warm and fuzzy" hire of Flip in the first place, "not screwing up" is a bonus in my book! But he did more than not screw up. I think he added/retained players that not only compliment Love and Rubio, but are terrific fits in Adelman's system. It's easy to find little things to complain about, but the final roster we are looking at is pretty damn impressive. I give Flip an A+.

This is why people are arguing. AK is better than Brewer, but we just couldn't get AK. Flip should only get a B in my opinion.

Monster that isn't saying much for Flip. This was a 45 win team with Love, Rubio and Pek all healthy. Martin staying healthy is almost impossible based on his history, but what disheartens me even more is this looks like a very soft team at the wing position.

60WinTim wrote:

AK has a great motor, but Brewer's motor is even better. His ability to run with Rubio and create havoc on the defensive end is a terrific addition to the team. Given the current roster, I also like Brewer's fit as a 2/3 better than AK's fit as a 3/4.

Great point

You hit the nail on the head Tim with the comment about corey being a 2/3 vs AK a 3/4. We need a 2/3 so DWill can play at 3/4. AK and DWill are 100% redundant. By re-signing AK at 3 years 10 mil we'd kill our salary situation, put DWill our 5th best player on the bench, and still be defensively week at the 2. Now we have a defensive 2/3 option who can run the floor with Ricky....The pieces fitting so well is my reason for an A+ grade.